llustrious tourism business from across the region were last night (TUESDAY) celebrated and congratulated on the exceptional contribution they make to the North East’s visitor economy at a ceremony held in Newcastle Civic Centre’s Banqueting Hall.
Winners at the North East England Tourism Awards 2015 included Durham University (Business Tourism Award, Tourism Experience of the Year) and St Cuthbert’s House (Bed & Breakfast of the Year, Sustainable Tourism Award), both taking two gold awards away from the celebration.
Guests enjoyed a hint of speakeasy glamour and culture with Le Sape Nocturne, a collective of eight of the region’s finest musicians, playing genre-bending music to kick off the night. Later entertainment came in the form of BBC Radio Newcastle breakfast show presenter, Alfie Joey, who hosted the awards.
The Awards were delivered in partnership with Northumbrian Water, Newcastle College, Newcastle Civic Centre and R&B Group.
The full list of Gold winners:
- Tourism Pub of the Year – The Bamburgh Castle Inn
- Business Tourism Award – Event Durham, Durham University
- Holiday Park / Holiday Village of the Year – Leaplish Waterside Park- Northumbrian Water
- Visitor Information Provider of the Year – Morpeth Tourist Information & Craft Centre
- Access for All Tourism Award – Sage Gateshead & GOTH AND NUFC & Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events
- Tourism Event of the Year – Festival of Thrift
- Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books AND Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
- Large Hotel of the Year – Rockliffe Hall
- Taste of England Award – Martineau Guest House
- Self-Catering Provider of the Year – Blacksmith’s Cottage
- Small Hotel of the Year- Seaham Hall AND The Morritt Country House Hotel & Spa
- Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Kielder Observatory
- Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year – St Cuthbert’s House
- Sustainable Tourism Award – St Cuthbert’s House
- Tourism Experience of the Year – Magna Carta & the changing Face of Revolt, Durham University
Sarah Stewart, Chief Executive at destination management and marketing organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “Huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners. It has been another outstanding year for entries with a high standard of entrants across the board.
“International events, in particular Rugby World Cup 2015, have given a huge boost to the local tourism industry this year, not only in Newcastle as host city, but across the whole of the North East. Such events present a fantastic opportunity to profile the breadth of the regions tourism offer from cultural city-breaks to family holidays. The region is home to two World Heritage Sites, world-class museums and galleries, breathtaking countryside and dramatic coastline, and it’s fantastic to see the continued success of local businesses who contribute skills, knowledge and outstanding experiences to the industry as a whole.”
The regional visitor economy is worth an estimated £3.9bn. Employing more than 55,000 people in North East England, with an additional 730 jobs created over the last 12 months.
James Berresford, Chief Executive VisitEngland says “Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners. I wish them the very best in competing for our VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in 2016.”
Organised and delivered, on behalf of the Northern Tourism Alliance, by NewcastleGateshead Initiative since 2012, entries have increased by over 70% in the last four years, making the 2015 awards the biggest to date.
Winners at the regional awards have the chance to showcase their business and the North East on the national stage at the Visit England Awards for Excellence 2016
The Northern Tourism Alliance is a collaboration of the region’s tourism bodies who work together on projects that will benefit the tourism industry across the region. Members include NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Northumberland Tourism, Visit County Durham, The North East Hotels Association and local authorities South Tyneside Council, North Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council. The Awards are also supported by Active Northumberland.
Ends.
For media enquiries contact:
Becky Beaumont
Media & PR Executive
T. +44 (0)191 440 5728
M. +44 (0)773 075 0101
E. becky.beaumont@ngi.org.uk
Additional Quotes
David Hall, Head of Leisure, Strategy and Transformation at Northumbrian Water, said: “Northumbrian Water is delighted to continue our sponsorship of the North East England Tourism Awards. The Awards are a fantastic opportunity for businesses to showcase their product and provide a focus for improvement in quality for visitors to the North East.
“As the lead partner in the Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, tourism is hugely important to us and we are thrilled that Leaplish Waterside Park has been awarded gold for the Holiday Park/Holiday Village of the Year award.”
Tony Lewin, Principal of Newcastle College, said: “Congratulations to all those involved in the North East Tourism Awards and of course a special mention to all the winners. It is great to see such fantastic recognition for our growing tourism industry and all those who work hard to make the region such a great place to work, visit and learn. Many of our students go on to work in this sector so we are proud to be associated with the awards.”
Full list of winners
Tourism Pub of the Year
- The Bamburgh Castle Inn – GOLD
- The Angel of Corbridge – SILVER
- The Staith House – BRONZE
- The Bridge Tavern – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Business Tourism Award
- Event Durham, Durham University – GOLD
- NUFC & Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events – BRONZE
- Seaham Hall – BRONZE
Holiday Park / Holiday Village of the Year
- Leaplish Waterside Park- Northumbrian Water – GOLD
- Doe Park Caravan Site – SILVER
- Springhouse Country Park – BRONZE
Visitor Information Provider of the Year
- Morpeth Tourist Information & Craft Centre – GOLD
- Durham Pointers – SILVER
- North Shields Tourist Information Centre – SILVER
- Berwick upon Tweed Tourist Information Centre – BRONZE
Access for All Tourism Award
- NUFC & Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events – GOLD
- Sage Gateshead & GOTH – GOLD
- The Hog’s Head Inn – SILVER
- Calvert Trust Kielder – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Tourism Event of the Year
- Festival of Thrift – GOLD
- Magna Carta & the Changing Face of Revolt, Durham University – SILVER
- Funfair, Sage Gateshead – BRONZE
- Northumberland County Show – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books – GOLD
- Beamish, The Living Museum of the North – GOLD
- National Glass Centre – SILVER
- Sage Gateshead – BRONZE
Large Hotel of the Year
- Rockliffe Hall – GOLD
- Hotel Indigo Newcastle – SILVER
- Village Urban Resort Newcastle – HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Jurys Inn Newcastle – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Taste of England Award
- Martineau Guest House – GOLD
- Northumberland Cheese Company – SILVER
- The Orangery Restaurant at Rockliffe Hall – BRONZE
- Zeera Indian Cuisine – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Self-Catering Provider of the Year
- Blacksmith’s Cottage – GOLD
- Hesleyside Huts – SILVER
- Springhill Farm Holiday Accommodation – BRONZE
- Calvert Trust Kielder – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Small Hotel of the Year
- Seaham Hall – GOLD
- The Morritt Country House Hotel & Spa – GOLD
- Newton Hall – SILVER
- Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa – BRONZE
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Kielder Observatory – GOLD
- Auckland Castle – SILVER
- WWT Washington Wetland Centre – BRONZE
- Oriental Museum – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year
- St Cuthbert’s House – GOLD
- Martineau Guest House – BRONZE
- The Old Manse – BRONZE
- The Old Post Office, Lanchester – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Sustainable Tourism Award
- St Cuthbert’s House – GOLD
- Durham University – SILVER
- Sage Gateshead – SILVER
- Slate & Nature – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Tourism Experience of the Year
- Magna Carta & the Changing Face of Revolt, Durham University – GOLD
- Hall Hill Farm – SILVER
- Karting North East – BRONZE
- The Cycle HUB – HIGHLY COMMENDED